Volleyball is a game of momentum and there are few things that can change the momentum of a match faster than an ace serve.
The serve is just one of Snohomish senior Kyla Mellick’s many weapons, but it might be her most powerful. Opponents don’t stand much of a chance when Mellick is at the top of her game.
“I learn from the little weaknesses that I see on the court, not only just serving but hitting too,” Mellick said. “If I know that someone is lazy on defense, I’ll pick on them and I do that with my serve too. If I know they don’t like to pass short I can chop my serve down so it doesn’t go as deep and it drops in front of them.”
Mellick led Snohomish last season with 87 aces — 21 more than anyone else on the team — and had a 24 percent ace percentage. She averaged 1.1 aces per set, though she exceeded that average several times throughout the season sometimes reeling off several in a row.
Mellick’s ability to get points in bunches turned several matches in her team’s favor last season and helped them to a second consecutive district championship and a berth in the 4A state tournament.
“It gets our own team excited,” Snohomish head coach Alex Tarin said. “Volleyball is all about rhythm and it’s all about going on runs, so for us when we see her going on a run it gets our momentum and our excitement going. When you look at the other team you see their heads go down.
“It’s a great weapon,” Tarin added. “When she’s back there serving we feel pretty confident.”
As much as Mellick excites her own team, she’s equally as frustrating to opponents. Cascade has to compete against the Panthers twice a season in the Wesco 4A. In her first season as a varsity head coach last season, Bruins’ head coach Maddie Benson got a first-hand look at Mellick — she was more than impressed.
“Her serve is an incredible thing to watch,” Benson said. “She has great placement and can put it pretty much anywhere on the court that she wants. She will hit a short corner spot two or three times and just when you adjust and think you have it covered she goes so deep (the ball) looks out, but somehow always lands in right on the end line. Her serve is powerful and drops harder than any player I’ve seen at the high-school level.”
Mellick has a natural talent for the game, but she has the work ethic to match. Her serve continues to get a lot of attention at practice. Tarin works with his star senior to dissect all the little parts of her serve. They try to perfect each part and hope she puts it all together during matches, which she often does.
Practice is a big part of Mellick’s success, but her mental approach is just as important.
“Some servers go up and I believe they try to hit the ball hard,” Tarin said. “We’ve really coached to her that we hit the ball well. Arm speed equals ball speed. Her arm, we talk about it like a whip. You want a whip-like action. The faster she gets the ball through the hitting zone, the quicker the ball drops and that’s something she’s really worked on.”
Mellick knows she has a special skill, but she insists she’s just doing her job.
“I definitely know that it’s a weapon because I’ve been told by several coaches that it is, but, to me, I think of it as this is my chance to make a play during the game,” Mellick said. “I always remember that my serve is just as important as everyone else’s. Every point matters.”
And serving isn’t the only place Mellick provides points. In addition to having one of the best serves in the area, Mellick is also one of the best hitters.
She led the Panthers last season with 277 kills, good for an average of 31/2 per set. At 5-foot-8, Mellick is an undersized to be a hitter, but she her understanding of the game has allowed her to overcome that challenge.
“I like learning different shots, especially because I’m not an average size hitter. I’m pretty short,” Mellick said. “It’s fun to learn different new shots. Last year I really developed my line hit and that was a really big improvement for me. This year, I’m focusing on sharp cross-court (hits). Hitting can be difficult at times, but at the same time you have a wide variety of different things you can do with the ball, which is awesome. Different things in your toolbox, that makes it easy.”
Senior teammate Jessica Brennis said all of Mellick’s skills make her a focal point of what can be a potent offense this season.
“Our team kind of thrives on our ability to have a strong offense and I think Kyla is one of the key players in our offense and on our team,” Brennis said. “I think her hit has a really big impact on how we play our game and how operate as a team.”
Her presence of the court also impacts how the other team operates.
“She really is a threat (in the) front row and back row, which makes one dynamic player,” Benson said. “She is incredible to watch and someone a team has to focus on individually to prepare for.”
Mellick will be a big part of any success the Panthers have this season, but Tarin said the team’s true strength comes from the sum of its parts.
“We’re excited to see her take this team on her shoulders, but what we like about this team this year — and last year as well — is we are stronger together,” he said. “Kyla is just one piece of our puzzle of many. We have lots of great hitters and lots of great passers. What makes Kyla really good is that the team around her is really good as well. It makes her a standout at times because her teammates lift her up.”
Aaron Lommers covers prep sports for The Herald. Follow him on Twitter at @aaronlommers and contact him at alommers@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
